Interpretation ID: nht70-1.16

DATE: 08/01/70 EST

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; L. R. Schneider; NHTSA

TO: Transelex Corporation

TITLE: FMVSS INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This is in reply to your letter of August 5 discussing your "new type of warning beacon' for use on emergency vehicles.

The photometric test action of SAE Recommended Practice J845,(Illegible Words) Emergency Warning Lamp refers to both "lamps flashed by rotation or oscillation" and lamps flashed by current interruption". The letter phrase appears to cover the Transelex lamp as you have described it, and we interpret J845 as applicable. Our interpretation would seem to answer your question on AAMVA approval.

Current Federal lighting requirements do not cover warning lamps, and even if they did, no Department of Transportation approval would be required. Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966 it is the manufacturer of motor vehicles or equipment to which a standard applies who certifies compliance with that standard.

Sincerely,